Andrew Schneider writes about public health and worker safety issues. His stories run the gamut from investigations of corporate and government cover-ups of toxic perils, to stories about gutsy federal , medical and industry workers doing what's right, to what makes the shrimp in your refrigerator glow at night and why white truffles might be worth $4,000 a pound.

Congressional committee wants to subpoena company boss to tell what led to largest meat recall in history

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will meet Wednesday to authorize the issuance of a subpoena to Steve Mendell, president of Hallmark/Westland Meat Co. Mendell was invited to testify at the committee’s Feb. 26 hearing on food safety, but refused the subcommittee’s request to testify voluntarily, said the committee in a statement.

“As we learned in our last hearing, the private sector must be an active partner in helping ensure the safety of the American food supply,” said Rep. John Dingell, the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “As the CEO of the company with the dubious distinction of being responsible for America’s largest meat recall, it is important the Committee hear Mr. Mendell’s perspective.”

Investigations subcommittee chairman, Rep. Bart Stupaks, said the meat company executive’s “testimony will assist the Committee in understanding not only what went wrong with this meat recall, but what can be done to repair our food safety net and prevent similar problems in the future.

“When it comes to our food supply, the safety of the American people is at stake and the Committee will not tolerate stonewalling,” Stupak said.